Welcome to Mars, our closest neighbor. Although she doesn't look like it, Mars is arguably the most similar planet to Earth, too. She has tectonic plates, seasonal changes, polar ice caps, a very thin atmosphere, and a rocky crust; just like Earth. She even has a colorful nickname; "The Red Planet (because of her abundance of iron ore on the surface)." However, she isn't quite as pretty; more like the ugly step-sister.Mars boasts some major accomplishments~ she has the highest mountain range (the Olympus Mons) and the longest valley (the Valle Marineris) of any planet in the solar system. She also has water on her surface, including the water ice poles and geysers. It is believed that she once had more water on her surface than she currently has.Mars is the only other planets in the solar system that has been visited by humans; however, humans have not stepped foot on the planet. We visit through the eyes of our un-manned rovers, which sample the contents of the air, the soil, and the water of the planet. Could it be possible that one day we could actually buy a nice house on Mars and take up iron farming? Or, is it possible that our ancestors moved to Earth after using up all of Mars' water resources? Anything is possible!
Distance from the sun: About 228,000,000 km (about 142,000,000 miles). Distance from Earth: About 54,600,000 km (About 34,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth 1,365 times. Planetary Make-up: iron, nickel, and sulfur. The iron ore is what gives the planet its blood-red color. Moons: 2 Names of the moons: Deimos and Phobos How the planet got its name: It is named after the Roman god of war because the planet's red color reminded the astronomers of the blood of war.
Welcome to Mars, our closest neighbor. Although she doesn't look like it, Mars is arguably the most similar planet to Earth, too. She has tectonic plates, seasonal changes, polar ice caps, a very thin atmosphere, and a rocky crust; just like Earth. She even has a colorful nickname; "The Red Planet (because of her abundance of iron ore on the surface)." However, she isn't quite as pretty; more like the ugly step-sister.Mars boasts some major accomplishments~ she has the highest mountain range (the Olympus Mons) and the longest valley (the Valle Marineris) of any planet in the solar system. She also has water on her surface, including the water ice poles and geysers. It is believed that she once had more water on her surface than she currently has.Mars is the only other planets in the solar system that has been visited by humans; however, humans have not stepped foot on the planet. We visit through the eyes of our un-manned rovers, which sample the contents of the air, the soil, and the water of the planet. Could it be possible that one day we could actually buy a nice house on Mars and take up iron farming? Or, is it possible that our ancestors moved to Earth after using up all of Mars' water resources? Anything is possible!
Distance from the sun: About 228,000,000 km (about 142,000,000 miles).
Distance from Earth: About 54,600,000 km (About 34,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth 1,365 times.
Planetary Make-up: iron, nickel, and sulfur. The iron ore is what gives the planet its blood-red color.
Moons: 2
Names of the moons: Deimos and Phobos
How the planet got its name: It is named after the Roman god of war because the planet's red color reminded the astronomers of the blood of war.